A Corpus-Based Analysis of Tweeted Voices: A Case Study of the May 9th Incident in Pakistan

Abstract

This corpus-based study aimed to investigate the impoliteness strategies employed in Twitter conversations surrounding the May 9 incident in Pakistan by addressing the proposed research question. To achieve this objective, the study adopted a mixed-methods approach and analyzed a representative corpus of 2,300 tweets using MAXQDA. Guided by Culpeper’s (1996–2011) impoliteness framework, the analysis identified instances of bald-on-record, positive, and negative impoliteness strategies, revealing nuanced discourse practices within a politically charged environment. The findings highlighted the extensive use of negative impoliteness, with prevalent strategies including directness, exclusion, and explicit association with negative attributes. The study provides valuable insights into the evolving nature of online interactions and underscores the significant role of impoliteness in shaping public sentiment on digital platforms during critical political events.